JERSEY CITY AND BEYOND — The Hudson County political world was in shock Tuesday with the passing of former Jersey City Councilman Tom Fricchione, 61, who was found dead at home after not showing up for work for two days.
His death was confirmed by both Hudson County Execuitve Tom DeGise and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. Both men had worked with Fricchione in their election campaigns.
According to Healy, DeGise, and others interviewed, Fricchione had not shown up for his assistant director job at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny for the last two days, and there was concern by his colleagues, who knew up as a reliable, on-time employee. .
Healy called Fricchione’s passing “terrible” and considered him a personal friend for 10 years as well as a high-energy, hard-working political worker.
“He’s one of those people who is irreplaceable, and will be missed,” Healy said.
DeGise first met Fricchione when both worked in the Jersey City public school system in the 1970’s. Fricchione had served as a teacher, principal and counselor.
“He was a hard worker and a tough campaigner when he worked against me when I first ran for county executive in 2002,” DeGise said. “But he proved to be a loyal worker and a good employee.”
Fricchione is well known for having served as a two-term city councilman, first in Ward A from 1981-1985 and then in Ward B in 1985-1989 after his district was redrawn. He also had appeared at Hudson County Freeholder Bill O’Dea’s annual Christmas Toy Drive on Saturday, where he took pictures of hundreds of kids and helped give out toys. – RK
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